Nelson Yap

From café culture in Melbourne to fashion-forward menswear label in Singapore, Nelson Yap has been on a fascinating journey. Where it will end is anybody's guess but for now, getting there's the main thing. Mr Yap, 34, founder of local brand Benjamin Barker, never really planned on being in the fashion business: truth is, he had his heart set on being a beach bum, musician (he plays drums) or struggling artist, although that's not the sort of career path his parents would have condoned.

Yap studied filmmaking in Melbourne, gravitating towards sea sports and skateboarding in his downtime. The outdoors lifestyle suited him just fine, and so did Melbourne's vibrant specialty coffee scene. A stint as a barista and café manager piqued his entrepreneurial curiosity but an illness in the family brought him back to Singapore. When his father passed away, Mr Yap was left in charge of the family business, selling discount suits. Business was tough, but then he noticed a gap in the market for well-made, affordable menswear, especially fitted shirts with quirky details that would appeal to young executives - so he took a loa…